Feed devices for material, for example in bar form



April 4, 1961 R. B. NICKLASSON 2,977,670

FEED DEVICES FOR MATERIAL, FOR EXAMPLE IN BAR FORM Filed Jan. 15, 1959 FEED DEVICES FOR MATERIAL, FOR EXAMPLE IN BAR FORM This invention relates to a device for the stepwise feeding of for example material in bar form.

The main object of the invention is to provide a device, which is simple in construction and which permits feeding of material of any desired size and profile.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device, which can be easily incorporated in sawing machines and the like.

Still another object is to provide a device, wherein the guide bed for the material may be of unlimited length.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the 'following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section on line IH-III in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 shows in an enlarged scale the gripper members of the piston, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view, in perspective, of the bearing plate of the piston.

The device comprises a V-shaped guide bed 1 and a cylinder 2, which is operated by means of compressed air or liquid under pressure and is displaceable in said guide bed. The cylinder 2 com-prises the cylinder body 3 and two end pieces 4 and 5, which are held against the cylinder body by means of threaded bolts 6. The cylinder contains a piston, whose piston rod is designated by 7. The piston is capable of being displaced in the cylinder 2 in both directions by the pressure medium. Fixed to the free end of the piston rod 7 is a bearing plate 8 which, when the device is in use, is pressed against the bar which is to be fed along the guide bed towards the right in the drawing. Fixed to the piston rod 7 by means of a screw 9 is a support member 10 to which two arms 11, 12 are articulated at 13. The support member comprises a tubular member 14 which is welded to a plate 15.

The ends of the arms 11, 12 remote from the points of articulation are bent downwards in the form of gripper jaws 16, 17 over the upper edges of the guide bed 1 and are urged against said edges by the influence of a spring 18. Each arm 11, 12 comprises an upstanding handle 19, 20 respectively, which can be operated manually so as to loosen the grip of the jaws 16, 17 on the edges of the bed.

Connected fast by means of two nuts 21 to the cylinder end remote from the piston rod 7 is a plate 22 which merges directly into a bracket 23 on which two arms 24, 25 are articulated. The ends of the arms 24, 25, remote from the points of articulation are bent downwards in the form of gripper jaws 26, 27 which engage over the upper edges of the guide bed 1 and are pressed against said edges by means of a draw spring 28. Each arm 24, 25 comprises a handle portion 29, 30, which serve as releasing means for manually loosening the grip of the gripper jaws 26, 27 on the guide bed 1.

2,977,670 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 The device operates in the following manner:

The cylinder 2 is arranged in the guide bed 1, and in front of the bearing plate 8 there is situated a bar which is to be fed stepwise (towards the right hand side of the drawing). Compressed air is forced into the cylinder 2 to the full surface side of the .piston and this causes the piston rod 7 to be forced out of the cylinder, so that said rod pushes the bar in the direction of feed.

When the bar has been advanced by the requisite distance, the admission of compressed air to the full surface side of the piston is discontinued and, instead, compressed air is admitted to the piston-rod side of the piston. When the piston rod 7 is pressed in the direction of feed the arms 11, 12 with gripper jaws 16, 17

move with it, and, at the end of the stroke, they imgripper jaws on the edges of the guide bed 1. When the supply of compresed air to the piston-rod side of the piston is discontinued, the gripper jaws 26, 27 again clamp on to the edges of the guide bed and the device is ready for the next operation.

The gripper device attached to the cylinder is so fashioned that, when the piston rod is moved out of the cylinder said device engages fast about the edges of the guide bed and locks the cylinder against rearward movement.

It should be mentioned that the feed device is suitable not only for feeding bar material but also for conveying all kinds of goods. The gripper jaws 26, 27 are expediently ground to have sharp edges. The handles 19, 20, 29 and 30 are used to release the gripper action when bringing the cylinder back into its initial position.

The grippers may be replaced by eccentric discs or the like, which are so mounted on the cylinder or piston rod that, when the cylinder or piston moves in the direction of feed, they slide along the edges of the guide bed, but prevent movement in the opposite direction by being pressed against the edges.

What I claim is l. A feed device for material for example in bar form, comprising in combination a horizontal V-shaped guide bed for the material to be fed and a pressuremedium operated cylinder displaceable relative to the said guide bed and having a piston, the stroke of which may be adjusted, a member for advancing the material, fastened to said piston, said. cylinder and piston each being connected to a gripper device, each comprising two arms which are connected elastically to one another and include downwardly projecting portions which engage about the edges of-the guide bed, said arms being mounted in articulated fashion on a support member, which is fixed to said cylinder and piston rod respectively and adapted to hold said respective cylinder and piston fast to the guide bed, in such manner that when pressure medium is introduced at the full surface side of the piston, the piston rod thereof is pushed out and moves with its gripper means, one step in the direction of feed, whereas when pressure medium is introduced to the piston-rod side of the piston, the cylinder moves, with its gripper means, one step in the direction of feed, said gripper devices being provided with hand-operated releasing members.

2. A feed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arms are each provided with a hand-operated releasing portion.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the gripper members which are connected to the cylinder are arranged so as to be elastically movable relative to one anotherand so adapted that when pressure medium is introduced at the full surf-ace side of the piston, the gripper members connected to the cylinder engage about the edges of the guide bed, but loosen the grip on the guide bed when pressure medium is introduced to the piston-rod side of the piston.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

